Newsletter

Judge takes Savannah groomer neglect case under study

Animal groomer Sallie Bond on Friday denied doing anything to cause the death of a dog left in her care April 16, but could give no reason for its illness.

“It could have been just his health, his age,” Bond told Chatham County Recorder’s Court Judge Harris Odell Jr.

She also denied ever jeopardizing any animal left in her care, explaining, “I would injure myself before an animal would be hurt.”

Odell concluded testimony in the case Friday afternoon, instructing lawyers to submit to him within the next two weeks their findings of fact and proposed orders.

He will then fashion a written solution to what he said was a very difficult case involving Bond “who appeared to have been a good person.”

“We have an unfortunate incident,” Odell said.

Bond, owner of Loving Touch Pet Salon at 615 Habersham St. is fighting to re-open the business after Savannah-Chatham Animal Control officers shut her down April 18 for alleged multiple violations of local ordinances there.

She is charged with 16 ordinance violations, including cruelty to animals stemming from the care and subsequent death of Tondee, a 9-year-old springer spaniel owned by Joan and Gary Levy.

The pet was put down after suffering from possible heat stroke April 16 while in Bond’s care.

Scott Sell with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Animal Control Officer Christina Sutherin contend the business was overly hot and full of violations, including lack of water and improper kennels. They also testified to overwhelming pet odors there and non-working air conditioners.

They have charged Bond with animal neglect, failing to keep sanitary conditions, not having a Department of Agriculture license, and not having vaccination documents on pets there.

Under questioning by Assistant City Attorney Lester Johnson II, Bond attempted to defend her operation, explaining her April 18 statement to officials was done while she was overwhelmed by the closing of her shop.

Bond’s attorney, Richard Middleton, repeatedly objected to Johnson’s questions, contending they were based on state regulations rather than the local ordinances.

Under questioning from Odell, Bond testified she had 11 appointments on April 16, but that no other animal became sick there because of the temperatures in the grooming areas.

Testimony has varied on whether two air conditioners in the shop were working as Bond and her daughter, Patricia Daily, contend or were not operating as Sell charged.

Joan Levy testified Thursday she found the groomer’s office “hot, disturbingly hot, almost like an oven” when she arrived and found Tondee unconscious.

Levy testified the animal was overweight, but not ill when she took him to Bond.

Mary Jo Bailey, testifying as a rebuttal witness Friday, told Johnson she occasionally baby sat and walked Tondee and said characterizations of Tondee being “lethargic, geriatric, overweight or obese” were false.